In our Big East tournament preview, Providence’s Josh Fortune was highlighted as a potential surprise for Ed Cooley & Co. at Madison Square Garden. The guard remained essentially a three-point specialist during his sophomore season, but unlike his first year at PC, Fortune was much more effective from beyond the arc, converting 36 of his threes (up from 28.9 percent in 2013). That improved shooting was on display during the Friars’ win over St. John’s yesterday: Fortune scored a career-high 24 points, making four of his seven three point attempts and carrying PC while Bryce Cotton suffered his first poor game arguably this season.

After the game, Cooley was effusive when describing Fortune’s game: “I think Josh is a big reason why we’ve grown the last five or six games. He doesn’t shoot the ball enough for me … If you leave [him] open, I think it’s going in every time he shoots it. So he’ll be shooting again tomorrow. If not, we’re going to have a fight.” I spoke with Cooley early this week, and the PC coach had to work hard with Cotton on learning how to balance scoring with setting up the other Friars, a concept it seems Cooley needs to teach to Fortune. When Cooley first took the job, he learned Cotton was the team’s best shooter, but he wouldn’t shoot the ball, preferring to defer. According to Cooley, “When he wouldn’t shoot the ball, I would make the team run, and so I told him he had to shoot unless the team would run.”

Fortune’s offensive appearance has lessened the load on primarily Cotton, but also Kadeem Batts, and as Fortune is able to take control of the Friars’ offense, PC could emerge as the Big East’s bid thief.

North Carolina isn’t the team that many projected in the preseason thanks to the absence of P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald, but the Tar Heels still have enough firepower to challenge Louisville in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Tipoff at Mohegan Sun. Louisville defeated Fairfield 71-57, while North Carolina earned a solid win over Richmond, 82-72, the the semifinal games yesterday.

THE OTHER GAME OF THE DAY: Virginia Commonwealth vs. Georgetown, 2:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Georgetown is feeling the ill effects of losing Otto Porter to the NBA and has struggled in the early going with losses to Oregon and Northeastern — the latter loss very disconcerting as the Hoyas were outscored 38-20 in the second half en route to a 63-56 loss. Things don’t get easier as they have to now cope with VCU’s havoc defense. Look for Georgetown to feature Josh Smith on the offensive end as he will have a distinct size advantage against VCU.

MID-MAJOR MATCHUP OF THE DAY: North Dakota vs. North Dakota State, 6:00 p.m.

If you like scoring and three-pointers, keep an eye on this game between these in-state rivals. North Dakota State has high aspirations this season as they return Taylor Braun, among others, but North Dakota is a solid team in their own right as they showed against Wisconsin last Tuesday. The Bagders are good this season, and North Dakota hung with them for much of the game, eventually succumbing 103-85.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

1) Will UMass continue their hot start and knock off another BCS opponent in Clemson? On the young season, UMass has already defeated Boston College, LSU, Youngstown State, Nebraska, and — most impressively — New Mexico. A win against the Tigers, and don’t be surprised to see the Minutemen in the Top 25 come Monday.

2) Another Massachusetts school, Harvard has their first true test of the season as they travel to Colorado. It’s been hard to gauge just how good the Crimson are, but we should learn much more about them against Colorado. The match-up between Harvard’s guards Siyani Chambers and Wesley Saunders vs. Colorado’s Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker will be a good battle.

3) Providence has impressed thus far, compiling a 5-0 record with solid wins over Boston College and Vanderbilt. Against Vanderbilt, the Friars ended the game on a 27-4 run to win 67-60. They have another good test today against La Salle. Seniors Bryce Cotton and Kadeem Batts have been tremendous, and the Friars are looking like a team that has the potential to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

4) Maryland has gotten off to a slow start with losses to Connecticut and Oregon State, and their game against Northern Iowa at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas figures to be a tough one. Nick Faust has to be better in order for the Terps to get on track — through four games he is shooting just 36% on two-pointers and 22% on three-pointers.

5) You should be paying close attention to Belmont this season; the Bruins are for real and very good. Fresh off of their win against North Carolina last weekend, they dismantled rival Lipscomb 94-64, and then had a solid victory against Holy Cross last night. Through six games, they have eclipsed the 80 point mark five times, and have one of the most efficient offenses in college basketball. Belmont doesn’t figure to be challenged much by Hofstra today.